"Let us work together to fulfill the duties entrusted by the people, nation, and president," Plate noted in his speech.
The minister remarked that the newly inaugurated director general of public information and communication should strive for accurate public communication in accordance with the framework to help Indonesia in better handling and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic.
The new director general can achieve this by ensuring adherence to 3M -- social distancing, hand washing, and masking -- as well as 3T -- testing, tracing, and treatment -- to stem the spread of the infection.
Plate opined that accurate public communication can make people more disciplined in using masks to reach 95 percent in September, as compared to only 85 percent in July.
In addition to increasing discipline in wearing masks, accurate public communication functions as a means to provide an understanding to the public of the work, challenges, and obstacles that the government is experiencing.
This communication is conducted to encourage people to support the implementation of 3T.
The director general is also tasked with encouraging citizens to actively participate in the COVID-19 vaccination.
"I believe that Mr Usman is capable of doing this," Plate remarked.
Usman Kansong worked as a journalist at Republika daily, Metro TV, and Media Indonesia daily during the period from 2009 to 2020.
He also worked as a lecturer in several private universities.
In addition, he participated in the "People to Diplomacy" Program organized by the Ministry of Communication and Informatics in Russia and Belarus in 2015 as well as in United States in 2016.
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Translator: Putu Savitri, Fadhli Ruhman
Editor: Suharto
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